The Mountaineer

August 6, 2025

The Haywood County Arts Council is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Grassroots Arts Program grants from local nonprofit arts organizations and arts programs.

Grant awards range from $500 to $5,000 — eight Haywood County arts organizations received a combined $26,000 in funding in 2024.

The grants can be used to cover costs related to artistic programming such as artist fees, publicity, musical performances, and equipment rentals. Operating support can also be covered, including rent, utilities, staff salaries, office supplies, and small-scale capital improvements.

All grant recipients must provide a 1:1 cash match for the amount awarded.

Applications will be evaluated by a panel based on eight criteria: completeness, feasibility, organizational health, community accessibility, alignment with arts and culture, multicultural relevance, regional impact, and artistic merit.

The submission deadline is Sept. 5. To apply, visit haywoodarts.org/grants-funding.

Established in 1977 by the North Carolina Arts Council, the GAP program supports programming and general operations for arts groups across the state. In Haywood County, this funding opportunity is made possible through a partnership between the Haywood County Arts Council and the NC Arts Council.